Khutbah: Backbiting
A short khutbah for children by Imam Ajmal Masroor about backbiting and slander, and saying only good about people, for children aged 7 to 12.
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What is Khutbah: Backbiting about?
Khutbah: Backbiting is an Islamic video for children aged 7 to 12 in which Imam Ajmal Masroor gives a short talk, like the one before the Friday prayer, about backbiting: what it is, why Islam forbids it and what to do instead.
Backbiting, the imam explains with a smile, does not mean biting someone's back. It means talking badly about someone when they are not there. Saying to your sister that your brother is mean, or ugly, or unkind is backbiting, even if it is true. And if it is not true, it is worse: that is slander, making up stories about someone, and the harm is very hard to repair.
So what should we do if someone really does upset us? The imam's answer: go and speak to them directly, kindly, at the right moment, so that they understand how we feel and can change. Talking about them to others does not help them improve, and it hurts.
But there is a kind of talking behind someone's back that Islam encourages: saying good things. "My brother is so generous." "My sister is so clever." "My father works so hard." Praise like that spreads love.
The imam's simple formula: if you cannot say something good, keep quiet. He ends by asking the children to raise their hands and promise, three times, never to backbite or slander again. It is a Miraj original.
What your child will learn
- Backbiting is saying something bad about someone behind their back, even if it is true.
- Making up something untrue about someone is slander, which is even worse.
- If someone upsets us, we talk to them kindly and directly.
- Saying good things about people when they are not there spreads love.
- If we cannot say something good, we keep quiet.
Where this video comes from
- Sahih Muslim 2589: Backbiting is mentioning your brother with what he dislikes; if it is true of him you have backbitten him, and if it is not, you have slandered him.
- Surah Al-Hujurat 49:12: Do not backbite one another.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6018: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or keep quiet.
Talk about it afterwards
- What is the difference between backbiting and slander?
- How would you feel if someone talked badly about you behind your back?
- What could you do instead if someone upset you?
- What good thing could you say about someone in your family today?
Words to know
- Khutbah
- A talk given by the imam, especially before the Friday prayer.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Khutbah: Backbiting suitable for?
Children aged 7 to 12. It is a short talk of about 5 minutes, with everyday examples from family life.
Does Khutbah: Backbiting have music?
No. It is music-free.
What does Khutbah: Backbiting teach children?
That talking badly about people behind their back is wrong, even when it is true, and that we should speak to people directly and say only good things about them.
